Coosa Valley RC&D Grant "Reachs-Out" To Assist Talladega Residents

By Eddie May, Coosa Valley RC&D Council Project Coordinator, Oxford, Alabama

The Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. (QOLHS) secured funding from the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.  The grant will assist uninsured patients in Talladega with prescription drugs, and will support health screenings and outreach efforts in the county.

The grant was made available with the assistance of State Senator Jim Preuitt and State Representatives Steve Hurst and Barbara Boyd. These efforts will not only help patients by assisting in obtaining physician ordered medications, but the project is designed to reach out into the community and be proactive in the early identification of chronic illnesses that can be managed and/or prevented.

A representative from QOLHS will be working with the local community to set up events throughout the county. To obtain more information on scheduling an event, contact Shaftel Benson at 256-439-6340.

The "Reach-Out" grant represents the first time that Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. has worked with the Coosa Valley RC&D, a non-profit organization that receives funding from the USDA through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  The Council is sponsored by the eleven County Commissions and the Soil and Water Conservation District's (SWCD's) Boards located within the Coosa Valley RC&D Council in eastern and central Alabama. "The Council was formed in the 1960's and provides technical and financial assistance to government agencies, schools, and other community based groups in addressing community needs" said Eddie May, RC&D Coordinator.

The "Reach-Out" project is designed to assist more than 1,500 Talladega County residents. In addition to this project, QOLHS has been working in the Talladega County area since March 2005, when its primary care center, Talladega Quality Health Care, opened. Quality of Life bought and renovated a local business and totally remodeled the facility to house the medical and dental operations.

Preuitt, Hurst, and Boyd praised the efforts of the organization because of the hardship placed on many area families in paying for prescription medicines.

"Many have to decide on either buying prescriptions or buying groceries" said Hurst.

Preuitt added, "This is the type of program that directly helps people with the red tape of getting assistance."

Representative Boyd state that "this program is especially beneficial to our senior citizens."

For more information about Quality of Life Health Services, call 256-439-6340, and for more information about Coosa Valley RC&D Council, call 256-835-0774 or e-mail coosarcd@yahoo.com.

October 2009

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